Chapter 43: Your Ex-Wife Plans a Seven-Day, Eight-Night Cruise with a Divorced Omega and Her Kid Part 1

When the three returned home and sat at the unmoving dining table, they felt an unreal sense of dreaming.

Taotao had fallen asleep, and sitting with them were also Song Zonghui and her senior apprentice sister.

Even though she had watched the live stream the whole time and received You Yi’s call assuring her safety, Song Zonghui was still very worried.

She had lived a tough life before, but her family had been harmonious, with parents who loved her.

“No need to worry, I’m very happy.” Pei Shijin smiled gently, as if a foul-smelling stone had been removed from her heart, leaving her body feeling light all over.

“Extremely, extremely happy.”

Song Zonghui looked at Pei Shijin and smiled too. “Good, as long as you’re happy. Congratulations on your liberation, Shijin!”

“Liberation!” Guan Yueying raised her glass. “You two haven’t eaten yet, and we’re hungry, so let’s continue with the hotpot!”

The congealed red oil melted and boiled again, releasing its domineering aroma.

This hotpot gathering, paused by a phone call, resumed once more.

Pei Shijin noticed You Yi sneaking photos of her again.

Last time, she had accidentally discovered that Lu Yixue was across from You Yi and had no mood to dwell on it, later forgetting about it entirely.

Should she indulge it or stop it?

Even until You Yi and Guan Yueying left, Pei Shijin hadn’t figured out an answer.

She lay on the bed, with only a dim bedside lamp lighting the room.

Her phone played clips from today’s live stream. The incident was like a traffic magnet, with local marketing accounts all chiming in.

Most people were reasonable, supporting her and condemning Zheng Guoli.

But there were also some idiots acting as centrists, analyzing that both father and daughter shared responsibility. Some even said she hadn’t fulfilled her duties as a child by failing to persuade Zheng Guoli to quit gambling.

Pei Shijin reported all those comments.

She was human, after all, and naturally preferred to hear words in her favor.

She scrolled until two in the morning, until every expression from the live stream was etched in her mind, yet she still felt no sleepiness.

Watching Zheng Guoli fall from the building had a greater impact on her than imagined. Even though she had fantasized countless times about killing him herself—skinning him alive, extracting his bones, devouring his flesh and blood—when it really happened, joy gave way to an inevitable unease deep in her heart.

Every comment from strangers became a question to her own soul.

Suddenly, the video became unavailable.

Pei Shijin didn’t think much of it—probably because it showed Zheng Guoli’s gruesome state, bloody and all, easily violating rules and getting taken down. She just kept scrolling.

But the next few she tried had no related content either.

Pei Shijin sat up in bed, crossing her legs, rubbed her eyes, then tapped into the search bar to look up keywords.

But the results weren’t about last night’s incident; any that popped up vanished quickly.

She tried posting a video and related tags herself, but they wouldn’t go through.

Pei Shijin turned off her phone and lay back down. Mass video deletions like this—besides Lu Yixue, she couldn’t think of anyone else who would do it.

Maybe it was for Mingzhu’s sake, just like how she disguised herself to keep Mingzhu from recognizing her as her mother.

Whatever the reason, Pei Shijin suddenly felt her restless soul calm.

She yawned. Time to sleep.

When she woke again, Pei Shijin opened her eyes to several pairs staring back at her.

They were too close, startling her into closing them again.

“Do you know how long you’ve been asleep?” Song Zonghui gritted her teeth.

“Hm?” Pei Shijin placed a hand on her stomach, where the growling was quite loud. “A day and a night?”

“Two days and a night—you scared us to death!” Song Zonghui said. “Yesterday we couldn’t wake you no matter what, so we carried you to the hospital. Luckily, the specialist said you weren’t sick, just sleeping.”

“I told you it’s fine—Alphas sleeping for days is totally normal.” You Yi’s voice was teasing, full of innuendo.

“But you missed a day of meals and meds, and a day of moxibustion.” Song Zonghui glared at You Yi, worried. “Nothing will go wrong, right?”

“It’s almost time for my follow-up anyway, so no worries.” Pei Shijin checked her body. “Just hungry, nothing else.”

She shooed everyone out, washed up, and Song Zonghui lingered until the others left before telling Pei Shijin, “The one we met at People’s Hospital was your undergrad mentor. She came for a consultation and seemed quite concerned about you.”

Song Zonghui remembered Pei Shijin had wanted to pursue a master’s back then; it had been all set, but somehow fell through. She’d asked around later but got nothing, only knowing—

“I already saw Teacher in Yancheng before.” Pei Shijin smiled at Song Zonghui with a toothbrush in her mouth.

“Oh, okay then, no worries.” Song Zonghui relaxed. “I’ll heat up some food for you.”

After washing up, Pei Shijin checked the time—it was past Little Mingzhu’s wake-up but not school time yet.

She video-called, hoping for luck.

If not, she’d have to contact Gao Ye’an.

Pei Shijin couldn’t wait until evening; she urgently wanted to see Little Mingzhu.

The call connected quickly, revealing Little Mingzhu’s face.

The little one lit up with joy at the sight of Pei Shijin, but soon her mouth puckered, her big eyes filling with grievance. “Mommy, Mingzhu was so worried about you.”

Pei Shijin noted the restaurant background but couldn’t see anyone around.

“Good girl, Mommy was wrong. Sorry for breaking my promise again—I slept from the night before last until now.” Pei Shijin apologized sincerely.

“Is Mommy feeling unwell?” Lu Mingzhu’s grievance turned to concern. She was so worried about her mom.

It felt like not long after Mommy left Mingzhu, accidents kept happening. Without Mingzhu watching, how could Mommy not take care of herself?

“I’m fine now. Mommy stayed up late on her phone and got weak—that’s why. Mingzhu must go to bed on time from now on.” Pei Shijin picked a reason.

“Okay!” Lu Mingzhu rubbed her teary big eyes with her little hands. “Mommy, I want to hug you so bad.”

“Mommy wants to hug Little Mingzhu too.” Pei Shijin’s heart ached softly. “How about this weekend, Little Mingzhu comes to see Mommy?”

Lu Yixue, sitting across from Lu Mingzhu, paused mid-bite of steak.

Who visits whom made a big difference.

She hadn’t expected Pei Shijin to refuse even coming to Yancheng.

Her hand tightened then loosened on the fork; Lu Yixue’s mood plummeted.

It would pass soon, she could only console herself that way.

She made no sound, turning herself into silent background.

Pei Shijin and Lu Mingzhu’s call lasted until it was time for school, and they agreed to chat again that evening.

After hanging up, Pei Shijin rubbed her sore eyes.

Daughters were truly the most thoughtful and adorable creatures in the world.

With Zheng Guoli no longer a threat, Song Zonghui wanted to bring Taotao to the clinic too.

She and Taotao had already discussed it; after chatting with Pei Shijin, the little one started coming to work with them.

Lin Shu messaged that she’d pick up Taotao in at most three days.

Things went smoother than expected. She’d cut ties with her family for love despite their objections. Now that they knew about the divorce, her family reached out first, apologies mending the rift.

With family support, Lin Shu was unstoppable.

But when romance brain took over, the messes with her ex-wife took time to clean up.

Pei Shijin congratulated Lin Shu over the phone and arranged a celebratory banquet when she arrived.

Little Taotao sat behind the counter, anti-loss leash on, confined to the clinic area.

Passersby teased her sometimes, and she just smiled obediently—very well-behaved.

When Lin Shu arrived, travel-worn, all her fatigue vanished at the sight of her daughter.

The sensible child burst into tears the moment she saw Mommy.

All her anxiety and fear poured out; she couldn’t understand adults’ helplessness, only that Mommy had left her with strangers.

Even though Song Zonghui had been good to her, easing some worry, what the little one wanted most was Mommy.

Watching the weeping mother-daughter duo, Pei Shijin couldn’t help thinking of Little Mingzhu.

Little Mingzhu was so sensible too, but how much unease and sadness hid behind it? She knew, yet couldn’t fully resolve it.

She’d have to plan properly when free—make sure to take Mingzhu out and have fun in Haicheng.

That day, Lin Shu held Taotao the whole time; they didn’t separate.

Taotao went with Mommy to the hotel to sleep, and the next day when they met everyone again, her face beamed with smiles.

Taotao could smile so sweetly and brightly, not just that shy little grin—Song Zonghui suddenly wanted a daughter too.

“I’ve booked a private room at Imperial Gathering Pavilion for lunch—everyone come!” During Lin Shu’s evening video with Taotao, she’d grown familiar with the clinic folks.

You Yi and Guan Yueying, the unofficial members, appeared often enough to count as friends.

“Sure.” Guan Yueying grinned at Lin Shu. If Lin Shu happily took her daughter and left Haicheng, she could finally go home fulfilled.

Though Lu Yixue had sent her for Zheng Guoli, since she’d spotted potential danger, she’d wait until the crisis passed—otherwise, she’d worry.

Lin Shu smiled back at her, bright as a blooming sun. She didn’t get why Guan Yueying’s gaze was odd, but whatever—she was giving good faces to everyone now.

At the table, everyone first listened to Lin Shu’s stories. She cursed the scumbag woman and tore into the toxic in-laws without sparing Taotao.

As long as she gave enough love, what did missing a mother matter?

Those people had snatched Taotao, starved her, locked her in a dark room to hide—how could Taotao like them?

Everyone laughed heartily, like listening to a satisfying novel.

Song Zonghui shared joyful Taotao moments too, keeping the table merry.

After the meal, Lin Shu thanked Pei Shijin privately and congratulated her on escaping her scumbag father.

Pei Shijin smiled. “Then here’s to you escaping your scumbag ex-wife too.”

“Want to go on a trip to unwind? My family’s cruise—seven days, eight nights, lots of sights.” Lin Shu stuffed the tickets into Pei Shijin’s hands. “If not, sell them. My mom said to give them to you all—each has one. Pass them on for me.”

“The clinic’s busy; we probably won’t have time, but thanks.” Pei Shijin pocketed the tickets. Material thanks were shallow, but refusing would make the giver uncomfortable.

“With so many of you, what if someone wants to go? I’ll take Taotao; if anyone joins, we can meet on the ship.” Lin Shu thanked her. “Really, thank you so much. Find me anytime for free service later.”

Eavesdropping Guan Yueying grew more suspicious—this invitation couldn’t be hint-free, right?